Give Blood at Blood Bank

12/19/2012

SEVERE BLOOD SHORTAGE

GIVE BLOOD - GET A $15 SHOPRITE CARD
NEW JERSEY, December 1, 2012 – On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 the Kearny Health Department is sponsoring a blood drive at 645 Kearny Ave, Kearny, NJ 07032 from 3:30PM to 8:30PM. All donors will receive a $15 Shoprite Gift Card. This drive is in conjunction with The Blood Center of New Jersey All are welcome, so come join us. This drive is being held in an effort to meet the urgency of the community’s increasing need for blood. Please come out to donate so the blood will be there for the patients who require life saving transfusions.

Sixteen years olds can now donate blood in the state of New Jersey with parental/guardian consent. The consent forms will be available at the blood drive; parent or guardian must accompany the donor.

New Jersey faces continuing shortages of blood donations and must import blood regularly from other states. Donations are needed every day to meet the needs of our New Jersey hospitals.

Blood center officials note that each unit of blood donated is broken down into several components including platelets, plasma, and red cells, so one donation can save up to three lives.

The donation process is safe and simple. Donors are first asked medical history questions and given a mini-health check, including pulse, blood pressure, and iron level. The actual donation of blood takes just 5 to 7 minutes, and then the donor is given a snack and juice. The entire process generally takes under one hour. Donors will receive a free cholesterol screening.

Donors must be 16 years of age with consent form signed by accompanying parent/guardian, weight 120 pounds and be in general good health. There is no upper age limit for donors provided they meet health requirements. Donors should bring a signed or picture form of identification and know their S.S. #. Please eat a meal one hour before donating and drink plenty of water.

People with a fever or sore throat should wait until they are feeling better before donating, and there is a 24-hour deferral for teeth cleanings and fillings.

For those who have recently traveled outside of the United States and for other eligibility questions, please call the blood center at 973-676-4700, ext. 132.

If you require any additional information, please contact Brenda Mcentyre at 973-676-4700 ext. 144, during regular business hours.

The Blood Center of New Jersey (BCNJ) is an independent, non-profit organization supplying blood and blood components to hospitals in 15 counties in New Jersey for over 60 years. BCNJ conducts an estimated 250 drives a month and must recruit approximately 100,000 blood donors annually in order to serve the hospitals and patients in our community.